HEDGEHOGS
The Latin word for hedgehogs is Erinaceus and the British hedgehog is scientifically known as Erinaceus europaeus; it is the same species that occurs throughout most of Europe.
The name “hedgehog” was inspired by both its snout, which resembles that of a pig (also referred to as a ‘hog’), and the old Middle English word ‘heyghoge’, from heyg, hegge (“hedge”), as they are often found in hedgerows. There is also a theory that as they make hog-like grunts and snuffles when foraging, ‘hog’ came from the noise they make rather than their appearance.
In Britain they are found almost everywhere and are well established in urban areas and cities, making extremely good use of cemeteries, railway land, wasteland and both public and private gardens if they are joined with others. In general, hedgehogs live in burrows to protect their young and hide from predators. The burrows can extend up to 20 inches into the ground and are mainly composed of leaves and sticks. They can create their own, but they have also taken over abandoned burrows when needed.
A female hedgehog is known as a sow, the male a boar and a baby a hoglet or sometimes an urchin. They can weigh between 14 ounces to 4 pounds (400g to 1.8kg) depending on the season; is up to 30cm in length (12 inches) and can live up to 7 years in the wild, 11 years in captivity. It is usually solitary, however if multiple hedgehogs happen to be found in a group, it’s known as an array.
Hedgehogs have a rather rounded body covered in short, dark, yellow-tipped spines or quills, and a short tail. The face and undersides are covered in coarse hair. The quills of an adult hedgehog are pointed and rigid. They are made of keratin which is the protein that makes up human hair, skin, and nails. The quills are not barbed, or poisonous, and they can’t detach. They are also hollow on the inside, so they are not heavy to carry around. An adult hedgehog has between 5,000 – 7,000 quills and each quill last for about a year, before it is replaced with another spike.
Although their eyesight is poor, they have good hearing and a well-developed sense of smell to locate prey. They are good runners, proficient climbers and can swim.
They have an impressive set of teeth. Like humans, they have different types of teeth, including incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. They can have up to 44 teeth.
Most hedgehogs have five toes on each of their feet. Each toe is equipped with a curved claw that helps them be efficient diggers; and while they have little legs, they can travel up to 2 miles when foraging for food each night.
They are mostly ground dwelling and forage for insects, fruit, roots, and grasses. Crickets, millipedes, worms, and beetles are some of their favourite snacks.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal animals and are mostly active in the night-time when they can be heard snuffling and grunting as they forage for food. They can sleep for up to 18 hours per day and in the summer spend most of the day sheltering in a nest of leaves, moss and grass.
If attacked they roll into a tight ball so only their spines are exposed, all these spiky quills point outwards to scare away any predators and protect vulnerable areas such as the head, arms, feet, and belly that don’t have quills. Though badgers and the dogs are a real danger to them.
Wild hedgehogs hibernate between November and mid-March, they sleep in a burrow or under a hedgerow when food sources are low, or weather extreme. They come out of hibernation in March or April and quickly start the process of fattening up for the mating season.
Mating starts in April and can go on until September, the male will mate with the female and depart shortly after. Most births take place in June and July; though the hoglet season can begin in early spring following a mild winter and stretch until autumn. Female hedgehogs are usually pregnant for around 32 days before giving birth, they normally produce a litter of 4 or 5 hoglets but only wean two or three successfully. When baby hedgehogs are born, they are blind and tiny, just 25 grams or one ounce in weight. Hoglets remain under the care of their mothers for about three weeks until their spines offer adequate protection.
The hedgehog is known as ‘the gardener’s friend’ as it will eat slugs, beetles, caterpillars etc., and does no harm, so if you have a garden you should encourage hedgehogs. In a single day, they can eat up to a third of their body weight. However please note that people have historically left out milk for hedgehogs, but milk should never be given to them as they are lactose intolerant. They do appreciate water, though!
Hedgehogs visit several gardens within an area. Ten or more different individuals may visit a garden over several nights, which could mean that ‘your hedgehog’ is in fact probably several different individuals visiting at different times. They are also skilled swimmers; they extend their heads above the surface and swim in a doggie paddle-like fashion.
Unfortunately hedgehogs have a bad reputation for having fleas, but hedgehog fleas are host-specific and, although they might jump on to your cat or dog, they cannot live on them for long, so your pet cannot catch fleas from a hedgehog.
In the past decade, the hedgehog population in Britain decreased by about 30 percent. Many are killed unintentionally by humans: on the road, with lawnmowers, strimmers, garden chemicals, and in bonfires. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (britishhedgehogs.org.uk) (BHPS) are encouraging people to cut small holes in their fences to help hedgehogs move around and take measures to help them avoid man-made hazards and provide them with suitable places to nest, especially in the winter.
The BHPS list many hazards for hedgehogs which include:
Slug Pellets – are poisonous and should not be used. If absolutely necessary, pellets should be placed in a pipe or under a slate that hedgehogs cannot get to. Dead slugs must be removed daily. Use garden pesticides sparingly; or better still not at all, you never know what else they might kill or make sick. Always try alternative methods – see the BHPS leaflet on ‘Creating a Wildlife Garden’.
Garden Ponds / Swimming pools – can be death traps to small mammals. Always ensure that there are several gently sloping slipways around the edge of the water or a piece of chicken wire or (green) plastic coated wire to allow animals to escape if they fall in.
Netting – Hedgehogs can become entangled in tennis and other nets, causing death by starvation. Keep netting 22-30cm (9-12 inches) off the ground so hedgehogs can pass safely underneath them, and plants will grow up to the netting. Legs can also be caught in the gaps between logs in rolls of log edging. When tidying the garden, take care when moving piles of leaves and other garden rubbish as these are ideal places for a hedgehog to make its nest.
Household rubbish – Hedgehogs will try to eat almost anything which be harmful to them. Having been attracted by the remaining contents, hedgehogs have been found with their heads stuck in tins, yoghurt pots and plastic cups. Litter should be disposed of in a proper manner.
Plastic Bags – Keep bags used for putting out household rubbish off the ground. This will prevent hedgehogs reaching them and tearing the bag. They can become trapped in the rubbish or even put out for refuse collection.
Drains and holes – should be kept covered so that hedgehogs do not become stuck down them.
Ditches – Provide an escape route e.g. a sloping bank.
Keep shed, greenhouse and garage doors closed at night so hedgehogs are not tempted to make a nest in them, and perhaps become trapped in them when doors are permanently closed.
Chemicals must be stored safely.
When replacing or installing walls or fencing provide a 13x13cm (5×5”) hole so hedgehogs can pass from your garden into your neighbour’s garden without difficulty.
Only use environmentally safe wood preservatives on your fences, garden furniture and wooden buildings.
Keep dogs under control if you know you have hedgehogs in the garden. If in doubt keep your dog on a lead when it goes out into the garden when its dark.
Another source of valuable information about hedgehogs can be found at Hedgehog Fact Sheet | Tiggywinkles (sttiggywinkles.org.uk)
They list the following Do’s and Don’ts to protect hedgehogs in your garden:
- Do leave some areas of wilderness where the hedgehogs can snuffle for insects.
- Do put out water for drinking.
- Do put out a bowl of dog food or meaty cat food around dusk.
- Do install, in a quiet part of the garden, a hedgehog house.
- Do look to see if your hedgehog is limping or appears to be injured, or in late Autumn look out for underweight hedgehogs
- Don’t put out bread and milk
- Don’t pick up fit hedgehogs
- Don’t leave black sacks lying around.
- Don’t use slug pellets or other chemicals, they may poison hedgehogs and other animals.
- Don’t light a bonfire without checking to see if a hedgehog or other wild animal has moved in.
- Don’t fork over compost heaps in case hedgehogs or other animals have taken up residence.
- Don’t spray hedgehogs with dog or cat flea sprays. It will be detrimental to the hedgehog.